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| The big tent and don Pedro Olthoff |
The story of my family's early years in Argentina moves on even as one source, my parents' correspondence, is drying up. Articles from the denominational magazine, The Brethren Missionary Herald, help me put together the puzzle of the next years in La Carlota.
These were still pioneering years for the Grace Brethren Church in Argentina. Dad reflected on those times in a 1947 article:
Many are the thrilling experiences of a new missionary—his first opportunities to converse in the new tongue, his first time to pray, to lead a meeting, and to preach. Among these also is the first daily vacation Bible school. For my wife and me this joy came rather early in our ministry. We entered the work in November and began our Bible schools the following month.
The first was held in La Carlota. With our little experience and our very limited vocabulary we could not have done it alone. Three of the believers aided wonderfully; in fact did most of the labors, we expected a better attendance. Our little experience was one of the big impediments, but Satan was also at work as evidenced by one mother coming to the door and very angrily forbidding her son to come with these Evangélicos.
The next Bible school in our smallest town, Los Cisnes, was excellent. The attendance was from 23 to 33 each day. There also we had help—a believer from La Carlota and two believers of Los Cisnes. The Gospel was presented so clearly that surely fruit shall be seen from those efforts.
In Santa Eufemia we were fortunate to have the help of Nélida Nuñez, who now is a full-time worker in the mission. The first day there were only seven. The second it rained and there were nine. Changing our methods from waiting to seeking we saw wonderful results. Forty-five children were reached for Christ and thirty-five were present at one time.
The final Bible school was held in Alejandro. We were completely alone. Starting with four children, at the end of six days there were sixteen. In all, about one hundred twenty children heard the Gospel and carried it to their homes. The next summer we are expecting even greater results." (The Brethren Missionary Herald, 8.09.47)
A general update from the Argentine field in the 1947 November issue stated, "The summer is upon us with its tent meetings, young people’s camp, daily vacation Bible schools, and the conference." These annual events belong in my memories like favorite pieces of furniture in a family home.
The big tent is one of those memorable "characters" in my life story. Researching the ministry of la carpa, added history and texture to my memories.
An earlier report from the field written a year before my family's arrival, told of the four tent campaigns that summer, the blessings and the tribulations. Two new towns were now open to the Gospel. In the first one, held in November of 1943, sixty people responded to the invitation to give their lives to Christ.
In another town with an eight-year-old Gospel witness, there were eleven responses despite great opposition of all kinds. The worst came January 31, 1944, when the lights were cut and the the tent was stoned with people inside. Some rocks were big enough to cause serious injury or even fatally wound a person.
". . . we find Brother and Sister Hoyt thrilled to the depths of their hearts. The Lord is blessing their ministry in a special way—men and women, boys and girls taking their stand for the Lord in almost every Sunday service. Believers are growing in the faith, and they are now looking forward to a building campaign. At present, they are making plans to purchase a lot. (The Brethren Misionary Herald, 9.06.47)"
This earlier photo of the meeting hall was taken in our first year in La Carlota. My parents had plans to decorate it with mottos or Bible verses. But in their letters, I soon detected hints of its inadequacy and then in 1948 they were asked to be out of the salón, it was to be sold.
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| This is the salón in La Carlota. At the right front is the organ, in the middle the pulpit, at the left the flannel board. |
This is a windy country, but that week [of the tent meeting in La Carlota] it outdid itself, with wind and dust and then cold that kept folks shivering and reduced attendance greatly. However, when the weather was not too bad, we had quite good attendance, and even when it was bad the believers were very faithful in attendance and there were always some from the outside.
The vacation Bible school that was held in the tent during this same ten days was also handicapped, but the children did not seem to mind the dust too much. They seemed to have a good time. One member invited her sister’s three children to come from another town to visit her in order that they might attend the school and services. They went home happy, with awards for memory work and attendance, and, we trust, with a greater love for the Lord and His Word.
On Sunday, the 21st, the Christmas program was given in the hall, with a full house. This hall is not very adequate either, and this little group is laying aside a fund for building a church. The Hoyts brought me to Río Cuarto on December the 22nd, and remained here, only returning to care for services until the new son arrived January 3rd. Lynn Arthur had to be modified to Arturo Lyn to conform with Argentine law, but it does not seem to worry him in the least. (The Brethren Misionary Herald, 3.06.48)
The days were hot and dry. There was so much dust and wind that one preferred staying inside and suffering from the heat to going out to be blown full of dirt. Our home was full of visitors. We were in the midst of tent meetings and daily vacation Bible schools in La Carlota. When I say the house was full, I mean just that, for besides the four of us, there were two fellows from the Bible Institute directing the D.V.B.S. and a preacher and his two children from Rosario. In all we were nine. This may not seem like many, but when there is only one to do all the cooking and cleaning besides caring for the children and washing the clothes, then it becomes almost a superhuman task. But the trials did not end there. There was such a scarcity of water that we had to fill the bathtub and use it as a storage tank. We therefore did our bathing in the wash tub.
At 9:30 a.m. we arranged our powerful public-address system and began to play hymns and call all the children to attend the Bible school at 10 a.m. The children came running to discover what new thing had come to town. Great joy filled our hearts to see the two Bible Institute boys take charge of the classes. Truly they won their way into the hearts of these little children.
In the evening again we turned on the loudspeakers and called all the people to the tent to hear the blessed message of freedom through Christ. In order to reach a greater number of people with the Gospel, we used the loudspeakers during the whole service. Each night the messenger brought a clear Gospel message, calling upon the people to repent and believe the Gospel. Although he is an Italian, he has been in the country 40 years and commands the attention of the people by his way of speaking.
Rich and poor attended these meetings, but the most remarkable of all is that everybody heard the messages. The most interesting part has been the comments throughout the town after the meetings. While buying vegetables at a certain place all the way across town, I spoke to them of the meetings and they revealed that they sat on the front walk each evening and heard everything. Another day I was in a certain store when the owner, a very devoted Catholic, said, "My! how that man preaches!"
While in the grocery store, one of the owners, always very friendly, admitted that he knew where to go for the truth, but because of the business, the relatives, etc. he could not do it. He also mentioned that he and his wife stood for over an hour listening one night and his wife remarked, "They aren't like our priests. These folks don't attack anyone."
Some three or four weeks later, I had occasion to go to the home of a certain German who lives close to our lot. He voluntarily mentioned the tent meetings and the messages. He said that he liked the music, but especially the messages. "I see you are going to build," he added "You're going to shut yourself in so that we can't hear any more of those fine messages." I assured him that he would hear more, for we expect to use the P.A. system the year round.
I remember Dad telling me about how the lot for the Church building in la Carlota came about. He said there was an auction on a cold windy day and he attended as a spectator with no intention of bidding. A gust of wind threatened to blow off his hat so he raised his hand to secure it. Much to his surprise and concern since he didn't know how he was going to pay for it. The Lord provided somehow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me. I now remember Mother telling me something like that.
DeleteDora Saldaño writes:
ReplyDeleteUnforgettable those memories of the tent! In evangelistic tent meetings as well as summer camps! I also have memories from my home on Colón St. across from the church and the women’s prison, The Good Shepherd, nowadays a very good Catholic school. But, who cared for it? That is engraved on my soul—his teachings, as well as the preparation of the tents, their care when in use as well as how they were stored for their preservation, the importance of the main pole that held it up, the stakes in their perfect point of extension! It appeared to be a common, ordinary ritual, but . . . when storms came it was very important to avoid fear and danger to those within, children, young people . . . that speaks to don Pedro’s RESPONSIBILITY! During summer camps, every night when we were already in bed, you could see his shadow checking to make sure the tension of the stakes was tight. . . that speaks of don Pedro’s Responsible Love . . . I never saw him angry; his clothing and appearance impeccable; he never ate too much, just enough; his demeanor and interaction with others upright and disciplined. Thus I remember him from my childhood and adolescence. Listening to him pray was always such a blessing, he seemed to know the exact needs of others. Respectful toward missionaries, cooks and other servers. . . Later I’ll tell you more about this faithful servant.
Dora again:
ReplyDeleteHere I am again! About nine years ago, I had the opportunity to introduce a topic at a well-attended conference. The pastor who later closed the session, called me over and asked who I was referring to and where was he from. It was don Pedro, and when I pronounced his last name he became very emotional and hugged me as though we had known each other well. In my ear he whispered, “That was my grandfather and I never knew him like you do!”
Dora:
ReplyDeleteAnother memory: One day he had us all kneeling, waxing the tent with some type of white wax or polish, “so the rain runs off faster!” He also daily checked the weather and studied the wind and the clouds. It was very interesting to prove the value of that teaching, for one day in an emergency we had to crawl out the back of the tent and raise it. He was always careful that the ditches were clean, no obstructions to the flow of the water.
Years later, already a nurse, I was matron at an English school. Each student had their own tent, we’d go out on horseback and camp near Mount Uritorco, some 80 students and teachers and all. What I had learned from don Pedre served me very well. Whenever I was asked how I knew so much, I would tell them about this humble teacher with a giant faith.
In the adult prayer meetings (my grandmothers and great grandmother never allowed me to stay home) when don Pedro prayed, I would watch him. I was so impressed with his knowledge of the names of God and his affectionate filial conversation with his Father! I still follow that school of prayer.
When he passed, I did not weep. I had great joy at the thought of him in a better place! And finally resting. For years, I always saw him at work, sweeping, doing something in the patio of the church on Rivadavia St. One time, the day before the annual conference in February, many attendees were expected so the missionary asked permission to set up one of tents in our patio to accommodate the men. It was huge. It was there also that pastor Reina and doña Margarita often stored things and often parked their car!
What a privilege it is now in my eighties to tell you about my ancestors—the fragrance of a life of service that exhales the fruits of the Spirit for the glory of God. SHALOM.